Safe Holiday Travel

If you're planning on traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday expect to see an increase in law enforcement on the roadways.

43.6 million Americans are expected to drive at least 50 miles over the course of the holiday, which means the State Highway Patrol will be sending extra units out looking for impaired drivers. The Patrol reports that last year in Ohio seventeen people were killed over the Thanksgiving holiday, and 30% of those deaths were alcohol related.

"Buzzed driving is drunk driving." said Zanesville State Patrol Post Commander Lt. Steven Rine. "It's just going to slow down, you're going to be impaired on making decisions, your reactions will be slower. Just watch out for the other driver and be responsible for your own actions."

The Patrol will also be cracking down on speeding drivers.

"You're going to have less time to react to a situation that's going to occur very, very quickly, so we say slow down, leave safe following distance, at least one car length for every ten miles per hour." Lt. Rine said.

You can report impaired or reckless drivers any time of the year by dialing #667.